Pilot 04: Meddle

"It would be too hot for you to exert yourself. So why don't you lean up against this wall and let me take care of everything?"

"You are such a fabulous hostess. You really make me feel welcome. Oh my God ..."

She reclined on her backside and moved her feet up my legs. I had almost forgotten that they had suction cups on there too. Very strong ones as it turned out. I held my breath when they reached my dick where my entire blood seemed to converge and released it with a moan of sheer ecstasy. However, they travelled on up to my chest and then she turned them sideways, attaching herself to the wall and very slowly pulling herself on top of me.

Her scent was a sensual assault that left each inch of my skin tingling and burning. She positioned her hands above my head and released her feet from the wall, opening her legs wider and wider, stretching them completely to reconnect with the wall again. She lowered her pelvis and impaled herself of my raging hard-on. The body temperature of a Soreila is about a hundred and two. Being inside that incredibly tight hot wet miracle of hers made me gasp for breath, not least because she swung on and off me like a gymnast.

"Do you like that, Jon?"

"Oh yes, that feels great. Fuck, you are hot. And so fucking tight."

"Your cock is so much bigger than the ones of most of our males. I have never sat on something that large. You really fill me out. I am going to come in no time."

She slowed down a little just lightly heaving her pelvis and getting my dick inside of her as deeply as possible.

"Yeah ... that's it. Now fuck me again. Harder. Come for me. Show me how you like it."

Her moans and groans were announcing that pretty well as it was, but the blissful expression on her face changed to even greater dissolution and abandonment, as she rode me to heaven, coming and coming again and yet increasing her speed, trying very hard to drive me up there too.

'Jon, where are you? We need to leave. What are you doing? Oh ... sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. Well ... can you finish that soon though? We are at the meeting place. Everyone is here already, except the Daugalan twins and Sinjin. Your Emma is getting restless too.'

'Tell someone to tell her I am going to come ... soon. Fuck ... very soon.'

Actually, I came that very instant. And then I had a really hard time getting away from her.

---

I arrived a little later than the girls. Sinjin avoided looking at me. I wondered whether I should tell her what I had learned from Leojin, but in any case this was definitely not the right moment.

'Good, I believe that's everyone. The Soreila were kind enough to provide us with whatever information they got on the Pret and their installations. There are roughly two hundred thousand Pret on the planet. Since we used energy weapons there is a good chance that the Pret will scan the planet for new arrivals – that is why we have to cut our visit here short. However, we should not let the opportunity pass to learn more about the Pret. I am therefore suggesting that we pay one of their installations a visit. We need to get some samples of their technology and maybe we can tap into their computer systems also. Yes Alo, more souvenirs, but instead of hair-locks we need some of their weapons, shield generators, whatever will help us in our next engagements.'

'I guess you have picked a place for us to pay them our respects?'

'Yes Jon, I have. The Pret have taken over a mining and ore processing complex roughly twenty miles from here. The complement there is just a few hundred Pret and thousands of Soreila slaves. Fina will lead us there and from it to a meeting point with Emma, as we are about to say good-bye to one of our friends here ...'

"Sin, is that true? You are staying here?"

"Yes Jon, I am staying. I am sorry. This is where I belong. My people need me. All that I learned on Talagon will benefit them and our struggle here. I believe I can accomplish more from here. I think most if not all of you would do the same if you were in my shoes."

Well, I was not surprised and she was probably right. We all would have done exactly the same. She and I exchanged a long, very quiet and intimate hug. I hoped I would see her again one day, and Soreil's current status did make that not altogether unlikely. Two tall grey furry creatures approached us.

"We are Kaspari merchants. This is Twenx and my name is Silta. We have been hiding out with the Soreila for two years now. We were wondering if we could negotiate passage on your ship."

Tufte's disdainful sneer showed clearly that he was familiar with the species. I found nothing in my memory about the Kaspari.

"Merchants? That is an interesting way of putting it. These shaggy monsters managed to get half of my planet addicted to all sorts of chemicals."

"Mofat, that is a matter of perspective. There was a demand and we supplied. Don't listen to him ... I don't recognise your species."

"I am human. I don't know what Tufte is talking about, but I don't mind if you tag along. Do you have weapons?"

"No, we don't fight. But we promise to stay out of your way. You would hardly notice us."

I hoped that Llft would help me with this decision, but he didn't contribute any thoughts of his.

"Okay then, come along, but remember that we aren't your body guards. We won't stop or slow down for you."

"Excellent. We are carrying quite a selection of enhancers that should work on your species. We will of course share whatever we have once we are on your ship."

I shrugged my shoulders and followed Fina into a labyrinth of tunnels and caves, which irritatingly seemed to lead down rather than up.

'Don't worry Jon, she is leading us the right way. We will ascend soon enough.'

He was right. She led us to a dead volcano. The chemical torches we carried didn't illuminate the area enough to see how far up it went. We desisted from using our light drones. Fina and Anjiran took the lead and climbed up the steep bold rock-face. Emma's hand trailed behind me, helping me through passages I would never have managed on my own, even catching me once when I slipped. The Kaspari were good climbers and did not slow us down at all. They giggled a lot though - maybe they had sampled their own merchandise.

Fina stopped on a tiny ledge.

"I need some help here."

Invisible to the naked eye, there was an access tunnel ahead of us, which was blocked by a large slab. She attached her hands and feet to the featureless rock.

"Now pull me."

Emma and Alo carefully pulled her back inch by inch. The slab was at least seven inches thick. Just when it toppled over, Fina detached herself from it and still she herself would have fallen down the Volcano had it not been for Emma's quick strong hand. The slab fell straight into nothingness. Almost a minute later, we heard it crash and shatter. The tunnel ahead of us was eerily illuminated.

"You can put out the torches now. This tunnel contains Zerod, a metal that reacts which oxygen and glows for centuries. It is quite precious and we have been mining and trading it for a long time. The Pret are fond of it too."

"Groovy stuff. We are carrying a couple of kilos of it also."

Twenx pointed to one of their bags, which almost looked like backpacks.

"Yes, it has a variety of uses. This mine is abandoned, but it will lead us straight to our target."

"Why did you abandon it, if there is still so much of that stuff in there?"

"Because of the Mil. The Mil are predators living in this area. They are attracted to Zerod. Remember: no use of energy weapons. The Pret are also close by."

We had to go on all fours for several hundred yards, before we reached a larger tunnel. The greenish light emanating from the strange metal only dimly illuminated the passage. I noticed a movement ahead of us.

'Danger. There are ten creatures ahead of us. They are changing positions now. They are not thinking, but I don't believe they are particularly fond of intruders.'

Fina stopped and listened into the silence. I hardly dared to breathe. Then they came at us. Spider-like six legged creatures, with an enormous heads and fangs that would make any big cat jealous. The first one lost its head to the metal disc Fina threw, but that didn't stop the others for a second. Tufte killed the next with a dagger he quickly produced. That seemed to incense another one, which landed on his shoulder and took a big bite before anyone of us could react. However, Alo ripped the animal off him and smashed it against the wall, over and over again, until its head was but a lump of green flesh.

Emma's hand kicked the next one through the air. Then they were gone again.

"Silta? Silta!"

One of the Kaspari was also gone.

"Sorry Twenx, they've got him. We need to move. There will be more of them. Tufte, come here."

Fina pressed her hand onto his bleeding wound. Tufte was a tough Mofat, but that made him whimper.

"Sorry Tufte, if you want to live, I need to get the poison out. Their fangs are poisoned and our hand secretions neutralise it. Twenx, are you carrying any more Zerod? If so, now is the time to dispose of it."

"No ... Silta is carrying it."

"Was carrying it. Forget about him. He is ..."

'Yes. He is dead. We need to go on. Tufte are you all right?'

Tufte was shaking from one side to the other. Emma's hand volunteered.

"I will carry him."

"That'd be the day. I'm all right."

Tufte marched on bravely, but after about thirty minutes he collapsed. Emma and Alo took him in their midst and carried him along. Another Mil awaiting us in the darkness lost its head to Fina's quick blade. It was so bloody frustrating to carry all these fabulous weapons with us and not being able to use them.

---

Tufte insisted to walk again by himself when we were closing in on the mine we had chosen. He had a brief chat with Twenx and a few minutes later he seemed to be okay again. Better than okay as a matter of fact.

"Twenx, what did you give him?"

"A mild painkiller. Nothing serious. Nothing to worry about."

Tufte rolled on the floor giggling.

"Well ... nothing grotesque. He might experience minor hallucinations."

'Silence! There are Pret above us in the large tunnel next to this one. They are driving some sort of vehicle.'

"Ore containers. They are bringing them to the surface. The Pret are using our old transport monorail system."

"Can we board those trains anywhere and maybe hide in one of the ore containers? Emma, stay with Tufte. Looks like he is attempting to eat those rocks."

"Gurr, gurr, gurr."

'His mind is confused. He is seeing little winged creatures and thinks they are delicious.'

"We can board the trains if we get close enough to a landing station. They are guarding them pretty well."

"Just get us ..."

"... close enough ..."

"... and we will send the Pret ..."

" ... elsewhere."

The Daugalan sisters were our best option to get by without using our weapons.

'You can try it. Fina, lead the way. Oh dear ...'

'What is it, Llft?'

'Nothing too important, Jon. I just listened in to the thoughts of one of the Prets. I never encountered creatures like this. They are seriously ... twisted. I am picking up several Soreila slaves ahead of us too.'

Fina pointed to an opening in the tunnel ahead of us.

"This is it. Unfortunately, there is no chute leading down. The cave down there is vast and full of nooks and crannies. I suggest Llft and I go first to see whether it is safe for you to belay down. You do have ropes on you?"

I had to grin when all of us simultaneously touched the clasps of our utility belt. There was a metal thread contained inside, no thicker than sewing cotton, but made of an alloy that would hold up to a ton. Emma and Twenx didn't have one, not that Emma would have needed it, but we decided to leave those two behind together with Tufte, who had just managed to entangle himself with his thread and a boulder so well that he couldn't move an inch. Under the influence of the painkillers, he was probably better off that way.

Fina and Llft disappeared in the hole and seconds later I heard Llft's voice in my head.

'You can come down. There are four Pret ahead of us, but you would be outside their field of view.'

I followed Anjiran and the twins, Alo was the last one having to deal with Tufte first, who had been freed of his entanglement, but was overwhelmed by the urge to hug and kiss the Turran. The cave was lit by massive light panels. That wasn't the only bit of impressive technology. The "old" monorail system turned out to be an impressive maglev train, with carriages bigger than houses. The loading station had four converging rails and hundreds of Soreila rolling smaller containers into the large carriages. I found it weird that they weren't using any sort of robots for that.

'Yes, that is peculiar. Fina told me that they had rather sophisticated robots to do the work – I suspect it has to do with the religion of the Pret, or simply their need to torture the Soreila.'

We hid behind a large boulder and observed the scene for a while. One of the Pret grabbed a female Soreila and dragged her into our direction.

'It's not what you think. It wants to kill and eat her.'

The Pret suddenly stopped about forty yards away from us. The Soreila female was surprised, but used the opportunity to get away quickly enough, when the Pret suddenly opened its grip. I didn't even have to look at the twins to know that they were responsible. This wasn't good timing though. The Pret just stood in the middle of nowhere, frozen in whatever reality they had sent it to. It looked more than just a little suspicious. On the other hand I could of course understand their wish to save the Soreila.

'The others will think it is feeding, which they apparently do in private. If we are quick, we can take it down.'

Fina didn't need more encouragement. Her disc cleanly shaved the Pret's head off. We advanced swiftly to hide it behind some rocks, where we found the shivering and confused Soreila as well. Fina urged her to get away and flee the scene, but she seemed incapable of moving. Her body was full of gashes and dark discolorations. No doubt she had been brutalised by the Pret frequently. Anjiran collected the Pret weapon and whatever technology we could find on it. One piece was blinking with a yellow light.

"That could be a communicator. They might be trying to contact it. Fuck. We have to do something."

Fina pointed to the carriage closest to us being loaded by the Soreila slaves.

"Get the others down and try to board this carriage. The Soreila will help you. I will keep the Pret busy."

"No Fina, there must be a better way."

Not that I could think of one at that moment. Not that she would have cared. She simply took off, speeding along the cave's walls, drawing not only the Pret's attention, but also their weapons' fire almost instantly.

'I have told Twenx to come down with Emma and Tufte. Tufte is asleep now. Twenx has given him a sedative after Tufte tried to hump his leg repeatedly.'

Shame I missed that. Alo shouldered his weapon and lifted the Soreila. I wasn't sure whether this was such a good idea either, as she would certainly slow us down, our combat unit was in bad shape already as it was. One injured and passed out, one drug dealer tagging along and now this pitiful Soreila. Yet there was no time for lengthy discussions. We ran to the open carriage, while the Pret seemed to enjoy the target practice Fina provided them with.

The slaves were following that spectacle too, until we were almost amongst them. They understood without any explanations and guided us into the carriage, building a hollow with the containers for us. Emma carrying Tufte and Twenx just arrived on time before we were completely closed in. The weapons' fire had stopped.

'I regret to inform you that Fina didn't survive her brave and selfless act. She has killed another one of the Pret, before she was shot down. The Pret have asked for reinforcements. No-one has used the opportunity to flee though. I don't understand. Maybe they were simply too weak for that.'

That was quite a blow and everyone in our group was visibly shaken by it. However, there was no time for grieving. Anjiran tried to dress the Soreila's wounds with materials from her medical kit, but the Soreila shirked away and fled into a corner.

'She is very confused and scared. Let Alo do it, for some reasons, she trusts him.'

"It's because he's such a charming ... sorry, I'm going to be sick ..."

Tufte was with us again. Anjiran took care of him rather, whilst Alo did indeed manage to help the Soreila. The vibrations in the carriage increased; then we felt it moving.

Chapter four – Light of day

"So, what's the plan now? Can we finally use our weapons again?"

'That would not be prudent, Tufte. I am glad you are clear again though. The train is going to be unloaded at a processing station soon. I am sensing several Pret and a lot of Soreila slaves.'

That fact that we had lost Fina and her knowledge of the area was overthrowing whatever plans we had. The Soreila we had rescued had calmed down a little, but sat there impassively with a vacant look in her eyes. I seriously doubted she could help us. Alo was sitting next to her, actually putting his arm around her and letting her head rest on his massive chest.

"Excuse me ... I know you have been through a lot, but we have lost our guide Fina, as you might have gathered. Are you at all familiar with this installation? My name is Jon, by the way."

For a moment it looked like she wasn't going to react at all. The she appeared to rip herself out of whatever nightmare she was trapped in.

"Tatjin ... my name is Tatjin. I'm quite familiar with it. We are being kept in the habitation behind the processing station. The caves are close to the surface. There is a space port above us, where I have worked before the Pret came."

'I am probing her memory Jon. The space port she is talking about is heavily fortified and guarded. Fina wanted to lead us through the habitation to another exit leading to the open sea. I don't want to frighten her more as she already is with my telepathic abilities. Please ask her if she knows the way.'

"Fina wanted to lead us to an exit tunnel leading to the open sea from your habitation. Do you know where that is?"

"Yes, but you can't go there."

"Why not?"

"The Pret have secured it and all others with shields to keep us from escaping that way."

Tufte pointed at the weapons on his utility belt.

"No problem dear, we simply blast our way through. How many Pret are in the habitation? Are there any command centres?"

"I don't know. There might be fifty or sixty. They all look alike. Do you have ... food?"

"Sure."

Alo rummaged in his bag and gave her one of our concentrated rations, no bigger than a thumb but containing everything you'd need for several days. We heard the door of the carriage opening.

"Command centres?"

"Their temple. They do everything in there."

'Oh ... no ... this is ... too much ... don't ask ... please, for your own sake. We need to be quiet now, there are Soreila unloading the carriage – one Pret guarding them. Xrrr, Xrro, do you feel it?'

Xrrr nodded.

'It wants to come into the carriage to ... to do things ... to the slaves.'

Tatjin wanted to say something, but Alo swiftly placed his finger on her lips. She understood. One container after the next was removed by the Soreila. Soon they would uncover our hideout.

'The Pret is here. Please Xrrr, you have to be fast, it is already ... acting.'